My oh my! You are 14 months old! Your grandma has been bugging me to death to hurry up and blog about what you did last week. For the first time, you actually ran to your grandma when she called for you. This made her extremely happy! You say mama, dada, hot, and a lot of other words but none of which I can interpret. You know that your name is on the wall in your bedroom. When I ask, "Where is John Warren," you point to the wall. I left you with your dad for a little while, and when I came home, he told me this story. He said that you were playing and then got up and walked to our bedroom and bathroom looking for me. You came back to him and said, "Mama." He told you that I had gone to the store and would be home soon. Then you started to cry but not for too long because y'all started to play with something else that distracted you. I love this story because it is the first time that you actually used my name to ask for me. My heart just melts every time I think of this!

You can follow directions (when you want to.) You knocked the pillow off of the chair, and I told you to put it back, and you did! When you are getting your bath, I ask you to hand me various objects: the fish, the little man, the book, and most of the time you hand me the correct object. You still love reading, and when I asked you to get the Pokey Puppy book, you found it on your shelf and brought it to me.

You like watching Thomas the Train and Sesame Street. One Saturday morning when you were eating breakfast, you pointed to the T.V. and wanted to watch it. Although I don't completely agree with allowing babies to watch T.V., I do think that educational shows for a limited amount of time won't do too much harm. Last week I was so surprised when you were so interested in Mr. Roger's. I hope you always enjoy that show!



Mamaw and I took you to the splash pad and you LOVED it! You still love your play dates at the park! You also liked your trip to the bookstore where you got to play with the Thomas train set and blocks!

We went to see Aunt Misty graduate from Ole Miss. You slept the entire car ride (thank goodness). You were so good and enjoyed dinner at the habachi grill.

This past month we celebrated Hallea's birthday! We went to her house and had an outdoor party. You and Hallea had a blast playing the swimming pool at the end of the party.

13 months!

Yay! You are 13 months old today! You are getting so big, and now that you are walking all over the place, you seem more like a little person than a baby. Over Easter break, you started taking more and more steps at a time. I was in the laundry room and looked up to see you walking through the kitchen! Your dad came around the corner and told me that you had walked all the way from the sofa in the living room! There was no turning back and your walking has gotten better each day.

I'm amazed at how smart you are! You follow directions now. You bring me books when I ask you to, and you take Dad his cell phone when instructed. You will bring me your shoes or mine. You even put one flip flop on my foot when I requested it!

The Easter bunny brought you lots of fun stuff--mostly the foods that you like--puffs, yogurt, banana cookies. You also got a great book about ducks and a soft duck from the story. You had fun hunting Easter eggs, and you enjoyed all of the attention!

 

 

Your friend Jacob turned one, and you had more fun at his party than you could have imagined. You loved seeing Snickers and bouncing in the space jump. Mommy was busy chasing you around the party since you wanted to explore everything! Your main goal was to play in any standing water, so I had to watch you carefully. Snickers probably would not have liked you bothering his bird bath water bowl.

You love to visit your great Mamaw! We have to keep the porch gate closed though because you would try to walk down the steps if we didn't!

 You are such an amazing son, and we love you to the moon and back!

My Baby Is ONE!!!

Oh my goodness, how time has passed. It seems like just yesterday that your dad and I were loading up the car and heading to the hospital to meet you. We have had the best year of our lives watching you grow and learning to love like we never knew we could.

This month was a big one for you...

You have started walking on your own! You don't do it all of the time, but you will walk from various objects that are relatively close together. You will also cut the corner of the sectional to save some time. I'm still super nervous when you walk because I'm so worried about you getting hurt, but you are doing an excellent job. Who knows, by the end of the month you may be running!

We got a big boy bed from Uncle Cheney, so we moved your crib into our room. This month you transitioned into your own toddler bed. You usually sleep about half of the night in it now and the rest snuggled close to me. I think this has been harder for me. Even though I can see you from where I am, I still have a hard time going to sleep.

We packed some of your baby items in the attic. You no longer use a changing table; I'm working on getting you a dresser for that spot in your room. I also packed up all your baby bottles. You haven't used any for several months, but it just seemed like the right time to put them away.

You followed directions for the first time this month! I told you to put your nose syringe in your diaper caddy. It took a few tries, but eventually you did it. I've since instructed you several times, and while it seems as though you have though about obeying you end up changing your mind!

I saw you stand up on your own without pulling up on anything or holding on to anything. You usually don't do this, but I saw it with my own eyes, so I know you can if you want to!

You not only clap your hands now, but you know when it is the appropriate time to do it. When American Idol is on, you will clap after the contestants finish singing (with the audience.) You also love singing with the contestants. Honestly, I think you have the best voice, but I am a bit partial.

You still only say Mama, but you can tell me some animal sounds. You love monkeys, and the other day I turned the page of you book, and you made a monkey sound when you saw the picture! It surprised me because I did not see the picture until after you made the sound! You also love the Moo like a cow, but it sounds like you are just making the M sound. You don't really "oooo" yet. Daddy is still waiting patiently for his name, although I think you might have said it once Sunday morning while he was at church...

This month you had your first grilled cheese sandwich. I must say that you thoroughly enjoyed it!

You are eating more and more solid food and nursing less. You are still just drinking mommy's milk, and it may stay that way until this summer. It is a proud moment when a mama realizes that she has provided milk for her baby for an entire year. I love you so much though and would do anything for you. The small sacrifices that I make to breastfeed you are completely worth it. I feel the most content when nursing you. I love feeling you snuggled up close to me, looking me in the eyes, laughing while you nurse, playing games or reading. These moments are ones that I will cherish forever; they are moment that no one else can share; they are moments that are probably not going to be as often and are going to dwindle away until they are no more, so until then I will love every minute of nursing you and providing you will the healthiest start a mother can offer her child.

Speaking of healthy or rather unhealthy firsts...you had your first cake! It was your birthday cake at your photo shoot! You tore that thing up! It was sugar free, but I'm pretty sure that there was something sweet in it because you loved it!

You also had your first birthday party. It was gnome themed, and we had all of your friends over Friday night and family on your actual birthday (Saturday 3/17/12). You had so much fun playing with all of your little friends and cousins. You got some great gifts. You love your helicopter that you cousin Oliver sent you from Florida! You love your play tent from Aunt Johnnie Sue and your Little People tractor from Charley. You also got a huge barn that I'm sure you will grow to love. You got your first wagon, and as soon as daddy gets it put together, we are going for a walk! Oh, and I can't forget the best gift of all--your Teddy Ruxpin from your daddy and me!







You love bath time but don't like getting out too much. I usually let you bring one toy to your room to play with while I dress you. In the above picture, you chose the circus cup which is a favorite of yours.

You lOVE being outside. This spot by the door where you can see into the yard is one of your favorite places. You are kissing the door here. It may have something to do with your teeth...I'm not sure...
Yes, you made that big mess. Not to self, do not let John Warren reach into the container of mini marshmallows!

Grandma and Grandpa got you a little bike toy for your birthday, but it looks like they are going to keep it at their house. :(


Yes, you use your mouth to hold things when you need to use two hands! :)

I love you to the moon and back! Thank you for the best year of my life! :)

11 Months Old

11, is it true? You are 11 months old now. I cannot believe that we are so close to your birthday! You are just growing up way to fast for your daddy and me. We are constantly amazed by the things that you do; you get smarter and smarter every day! You have started clapping your hands and saying, "Mama!"

You are eating more now, and I let you try all kinds of things (mostly healthy). You liked the cracker with chicken salad last week, the ice cream yesterday from Aunt Johnna’s birthday cake, the kiwi, fruit popsicle, grilled hamburger meat, toast and grits. I try to give you mostly food that you can feed yourself, and while that usually makes a huge mess, I am glad that I am respectfully feeding you. You have, however, started intentionally throwing your food on the floor when you don’t want it, and while I am glad that you are smart enough to know that once it is down there you d0n’t have to eat it, I would rather you just tell me that you are done. No, you aren’t talking much yet, but you do raise both of your hand when you want up (from the chair or from the floor). That is our own little baby sign. J

Speaking of talking, you can say mama, but as far as words go, that is about it. I’m working on it with you. I know that once you start, you won’t ever stop, so I am trying to enjoy this moment as much as I can. While you aren’t very verbal, you are excellent at communicating your feelings. You sign for milk all of the time. To you (right now) it means, “I want.” One day this past week, you woke up and I was just watching you to see if you were going back to sleep. You spotted me, looked right in my eyes, raised your little arm, and signed for milk. It warmed my heart so much! A similar event occurred one day when I got home this past week. You were sleeping in your mamaw’s arms; she handed you over to me, and you started to stir. You were not even awake, but you opened you sweet little eyes, saw me, and signed for milk. I nursed you back to sleep, and you had a great nap!

You have eight teeth now! Four on the top and four on the bottom!

You moved into your big boy carseat this month! It took Dad a while to get it in the car, but he finally did it.

You had a great time at Jack's birthday. You got to play with your little cousins!

You play peek-a-boo now. You will stand at the end of the sofa and squat down and then pop up again. When I say peek-a-boo, you get the biggest kick out of it.

You love to just play in general. You will make your rounds in the playroom playing with all of your toys. You like to pull them out of the drawers and play chest. You know how they work; you press the puppy’s foot to make him talk, you pull the lever to spin the car toy, you play basketball, you put the shaped blocks in the sorting cube. You can see me do it, and then you can copy me. You daddy and I love this about you.

You still love you books, and I am going to work hard to keep it that way. Right now, you love Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, your truck carry books, and all Mickey Mouse books.

Your new best friend is Red; you sleep with him every night. He is the perfect size for your little hands. You still love looking out the window, going outside, playing with your friends and loving on your mommy!

You took your first steps this past week. You walked from your grandma to your daddy. It was only about six steps, but it proves that you can do it. Other than that, you just won’t let go; that’s ok baby; you don’t have to let go until you are ready.